Baby walker



Patented Sept. 2, 1952 `UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,609,030 BABYWALKER cedric c. stack, Elwood, Ina.

Application August 3, 1950, Serial No. 177,460

(c1. 15s- 24)A 13 Claims.

`This invention relates to improvements in baby walkers and it consistsin the matters herein Aillust-,rated and described and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

The baby walker with which the present invention is more especiallyconcerned and which is sometimes known as a go cart, consists oi a frameWork movable about on casters or the like and designed to support infantchildren while learning to walk so that such children accustomthemselves to walking.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a baby walker which isof a light weight, but strong and durable construction and which is ofsuch stability that it is indeed diflicult for the baby to tip thewalker, in its use thereof. Another object of the invention is toprovide a baby walker which includes a seat that may be elevated fromtime to time to accommodate the baby in its growth and thereby adjustthe height of the seat to the legs of thebaby.

A further object of the invention is to provide a baby walker thatincludes a seat of flexible material from which the baby cannot readilyescape and a frame for supporting the seat, which seat and frame are somade that thelseat, when soiled, may be readily removed from the frameand replaced by a` clean one.

Also it is an object of the invention to provide a baby walker whichsafely and comfortably confines the baby thereto, but from which it maybe readily removed whenin need of attention.

Again it is an object of the invention to provide a baby walker whichmay be shipped in a knocked down condition to occupy but a small amountof space and which may be readily assembled into its condition for useby persons of average ability. y

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a baby walkerthat includes therein a hand hold at rthe front of the seat, which handhold is so constructed and arranged relative to parts of the walker asto secure them together as a fully assembled frame while affording thesupport for the seat of the walker.

Also, again it is an object of the invention to provide a ybaby walkerthaty includes a frame work and supporting legs that are so covered witha cushioning material that the walker cannot mar or nick furniture inthe vicinity of its use.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others,together with the advantages thereof, will more fully appear as thespecication proceeds.4

In the drawing: v Fig. 1 is a perspective view of ababy walker embodyingthe preferred form of the invention with the seat thereof in anelevatedposition.

Fig. 2y is a front elevation of the walker ap' pearing in Fig. 1 withthe seat thereof in a lower position.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the Walker as taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2 but with the seat frame swung to one side of the mainframe and illustrating the manner in which the seat may be removed fromthe seat frame without a complete removal of the latter from the mainframe.

Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view through one of the legs ofthe main frame of the walker as taken on the line 4 4 but on a scaleenlarged over that of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 5 is a perspective'view on an enlarged scale of fragments ofcertain parts of the walker in an aligned position showing the samegenerally in the order of assembly.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectional View through a part of the Walkeras'taken on the line 6 6 and on a scale larger than that of Fig. 2l andmore particularly shows the manner in which parts appearing in Fig. 5are operatively connected together in the assembled walker.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustratedin the accompanying drawing, the improved walker includes a main framemade up of a pair of laterally spaced right and left hand invertedU-shaped frame mem'- bers Il) and Il, each composed of a top horizontalportion I2 and front and rear end legs I3 and I4 respectively. Thebottom of each leg is provided with a swiveling caster I5. Preferablyeach frame member I6 and I I is made of metallic tubing but they may bemade of rod stock, wood or other suitable materials, bent toY suitableshape or so formed in other ways. Each member as shown is provided witha cushioning en-V closure, such as for instance a rubber tubing I6 asbest shown in Fig. 4. On the bottom endof each leg of said frame membervis a rubber bumper I 1.

The front portion of the top horizontal parts I2 of both frame membersare connected together by a reach bar I8 made of tubing and formed atthe top of each end with an opening I8a and at the bottom of each endwith another opening I8b of such size as to t upon a part of the portionI2 of an associated frame member I0 and II respectively. The openingsI8a and Ib which are axially alined, best appear in Fig. 5.

Each frame member I and I I is bent outwardly from a point back of thereach bar as best appears in Fig. 3. Thus the rear legs I4 of both framemembers are spaced further apart than the front legs and therefore havea greater spread. This provides such stability for the frame of thewalker as a whole as will prevent tipping thereof, under the movement ofthe baby occupant of the walker.

Risingffrom the framethus far described is an inverted U-shaped handhold I9 which includes a horizontal cross bar 20 and depending end legs2|-2|. The horizontal cross bar of this hand hold, which is bent from apiece of bar stock;VY is covered with a sleeve 22 of rubber to afford agood grip for` the hands of the baby.

The legs of the hand hold are spaced laterally apart, the same distanceas the front portions of the side frame members I0 and I I andtheirbot-v tom end portions 2Ia, which are of a threaded reduceddiameter, are capable of passing through openings A232 in the'expose'dpart of each portion of which: portions best appears-in Fig. 5. At thejunctionv of each leg 2| and: its; extension. is' a downwardly. facing"shoulder' 2Ibf whichv best appears in Figs. 5 and 6.

V4.indicates theseat'frameof the walker made from'a. length on tubinglbent into substantially aL'LlI'shapei-to have a rounded back 25andpara-llel r'cleannis-f2'1"-'21 which are spaced the samedistance?apartv as the legs 2|? ofI the hand hold 20. In'tlietop. portion;of-"each: seat; frame arm 21, near its extremity, is a threadedA opening2-8 to receivef afs'et screw 29"asf best. appears in Figs; 5 and. 6:

3W indicates a'. connection member employed between each legxZIE'andlthe' associated arm 2'! oft'he seat' frame.. 'Itxis' madev from; apiece. of bar-'stoclc-.of the-same diameter-as the associated seat:frame arm to'providea front end body por.- tion 3| and a rear'end stem32 reduced in diameter fori a snug't' inthe end of the associated seatframe armI 2:1. A central transversel open.- i`n'gf3'3 is provided irrthe body' andV this opening isof Vsuch diameter as tov permit thepassage of the'fass'ociatedi leg '2| of the hand'. holdtherethrough. 'Inthe'front' end of thebodyv 3|- is-v a threaded' opening' 34 which;communicates with thefopeningr33 rand said'A opening takesafingertrnalfile:screw 35'. In thesteml 32 of eachlconnectiolr member-3U', nearits rear end is an annulargroove-SZa.. The distance said grooveis-spaced from. the' rear end of the body 3| issuch that when. said;stenr is inserted into the front end of a. seat frame: arm `2-'I', toapoint' where the eX- tremty thereof engages the rear end of the body35|" ofthe-associated 'connection member 30, said 'groove 32a.Y willrline. up with f the,u screw 2 9= carried bysaidfarm 2'|.

The seatwhich is'supported by the seat frame 251is: preferably made ofa: waterproofed flexible material'- a-nd" is indicated as l a. whole bythe numeral: 36; It includes a back-31, sides 38, a bottom39 and 'afront 40. The upper margin of the back and the sides are folded over andstitched thereto-toprovide ahem 4-I of such sizeasto receiveftheback andthe armsof the seatframe 215. Thef-ront 40 terminates just belowv thehemand where this frontjoins the sides. The bottom of the seat-is formedwithleg openings 42..

Preferably the-walker isshippedin a knocked down condition in a suitablebox for assembly in the? home. of the` purchaser with the aid of suchsimple tools asareafound in nearly every home..

To assemble the various parts above described the side frame members andmay be placed in an upright position and then the reach bar I8 applied,with the recesses |8b in its ends straddling the upper exposed parts ofthe portions I2 of said side frame members and with the holes 8a in saidends lined up with the holes 23 in said side frame portions.

A connection member 30 is then applied to that portionofthehandhol'dlegs 2f| above the shoulders 2 Ib thereon. Byv turning theassociated screw 35 of the connection member, the latter is preventedfrom slipping off the leg portion 2|. The: leg portions 2| a are theninserted through the aligned holes and recesses IBa and |8b in theAreach vbar ends and through the openings 23 in the. portionsY I.2fof.the side frame members so as to extend below the latter and to thisportion of ea'c'h lega nut 45 is applied from below. One of said nutsbest appears'in Figs. 5 and 6. This secures` theside frame.- memloers||l` and the reach barA I8HA and the= hand. hold 20.operatively togetheras. the main. frame for. the walker. AAt this time.- itisbestftopoint.the stems32v of both connection. membersl 30 straightA rearwardly andthentightenthe screws.-35.

'After' thev seat. has. been. applied to the seat frame=25=-bypassingrthe latter through. the hem 4| of the. seat, the frontends-ofthe arms 2'I of said seat frame are'v causedtoline up with. the stems 32of both connection members. 30. until the front. endextremities of. saidarmsv engage the, rear. end of. the bodies of. said connection members.Inxthis-conditionthe screws 29..car. ried--bysaid seatframe arms 21,which now line up with thegrooves 32ain the stems 32., are tightened soas to. enter said grooves. This .solidly butI removably attaches theseatframe ends. 2I tosaid connection members 30. YBy loosening thescrews 35` thefmembers.- 3|]` and seat. frame and seat thereon may beadjustedinto the desired position on the legs 2| of the hand hold andwherein -they may be lockedsby tightening the screw 35.. When the seat36: isv inthe foremost position. on-itsframe Zthehem 4| thereof willcover thelheads. ofy both. screws 29 which areof the at head type.

By pushing the front end of. ther hem.4| back uponrthe'legs. 2.1 of theseat frame, this moves the seattoward the rear of. the'frame and'exposes .the headsof. saidscrews.

If itis desired to. change the seat. foi: a clean one this maybedoneineither of4 two ways. One wayisto loosen the. screws. 29 far enoughso the seatframe may be withdrawn rearwardly and off the stems- 32 of.both connection. members. The seat may nowI be worked` off. theseatframefrom the end of one of the arms 2.|-v thereof. and aclean one applied.to-theframe as beforementioned. Thereafter theseat frame is applied. tobothstemsof.` the-connection members 30Y and thescrews29.againtightenedv up.v

YAnother. way to` change the seat is to-` remove the end-r of one. oftheseat frame. arms from its stem, as before described, and. then. loosenthe screw 35 of the.- other connection member so that theframemay beswung aboutone of the..legs.2|. of. the. handheld into thepositionshowninFig. 3.. Inthis positiorrthe: seat may-be. worked.- offthe. frameefrom.- that arm that. has. been disconnected from itsassociated connection member and. a new or. clean one applied tothe seatframey as. beforementioned. VThezfseat frame mavthenbe swung back toitsopera-tive position so that the stem enters the end ofthafreefarm "ofisaid frame againl to 5 be attached thereto by tightening the screw 29. n.'I'hewalker Vis comfortable foruse by babies andV through the use ofthe'same the baby soon learns to-iwalk. As' the baby grows the seat-maybe raised to accommodate'such growth. As the legs of the walkerframe arecushioned, the walker cannot mar furniture or other articles into whichit may be bumped.

I=cl`aim as my invention: 1."A baby 'walker embodying' therein laterallyspaced side frame members each includinga top portion and' front andrear legs extending downwardly from the ends thereof,a reach barextending transversely of and'havingdirect connections at its ends withtop portions of said "side frame members, an inverted. U-shaped memn berincluding a handheld at the top and depending side legs,'the bottom endsof which form parts vof'said direct'connections, a seat support havingside armsconnected together at the rear, and means for operativelyconnecting the front ends vof said side arms to said depending sidelegs. l, 2. A baby walker embodying thereinflaterally` spaced side framemembers'each including a top portion and front and rear legsV extendingdownwardly from the endsf thereof, a reach bar extending transversely ofand having direct connections at its endswith top portions of said sideframe members, an inverted U-shaped member including a hand hold at thetop and depending side legs, the"'bottom ends of which form vparts ofsaid direct connections, a `seat support having side arms connectedtogether at the rear, and means forl operatively connecting the frontends f said side arms to said depending side legs, portions ofsaidsideframe members forwardly of said connections being disposed inparallel relation and portions of said side frame members rearwardly ofsaid connections being splayed outwardly to space the rear legs of saidframe members a wider distance apart than the front legs thereof. f

3. Ababy walker embodying therein laterally spaced lside frame memberseach including a top portion and front and rear legs extendingdownwardly from the ends thereof, a reach bar extending transversely ofand connected at its ends to portions of said side frame members, avseat support having side arms connected together at the rear, meansproviding a vertical pivotal connection for the front end of one of thearms of the seat support with respect to one of said side frame membersand about which said support may be swung, in a horizontal plane, tobring the front end of the other arm of said support into and out ofoperative relation to the other side frame member, and means fordetachably connecting said end of said other arm to said other sideframe member when disposed in operative relation thereto.

4. A baby walker embodying therein laterally spaced side frame members,each including a top portion and front and rear legs extendingdownwardly from the ends thereof, a reach bar extending transversely ofand connected at its ends to portions of said side frame members, a seatsupport having side arms connected together at the rear, means providinga vertical pivotal connection for the front end of one of the arms ofthe seat support with respect to one of said side frame members andabout which said support may be swung in a horizontal plane to bring thefront end of the other arm thereof into and out of operative relation tothe other side frame member,means for detachably connecting" said end ofsaid other arm tov said other side .frame member when Ldispose'd inoperative vrelation thereto, and a seat member of flexible mate; rialhaving a marginal hem at the sides and rear thereof, which hem may Abeapplied to and removed'from said support when said other arm is detachedfrom said other side frame member.

5. A baby walker embodying therein laterally spaced side frame memberseach including `atop portion and front and rear legs extending down-'-wardly from the ends thereof; a reach vbar extending transversely of andhaving end portions engagedwith portions of saidside iframe meme bers,an upright member extending through each end of the reach bar and thatportion of a side frame member with ywhich it is engaged and operativelysecuring said reach. bar to said side frame members, and a seat supporthaving side arms connected together at the rear and at their Yfront endsoperatively engaged upon said uprightmembers. v i

6. A baby walker embodying therein laterally spaced sideframe memberseach including a top portion and front and rear legs extendingdownwardly from the ends thereof, a reach bar extending transversely ofand having end portions engaged with portions of said side frame members, an upright member extending through each end of said reach bar andthat portion of a side frame member with which it is engaged andoperatively securing said reach bar to said side frame members, a seatsupport having side arms connected together at the rear, and means forattaching the front ends of the arms of the seat support to said uprightmembers at different elee vations thereon.

'7. A baby walker embodying therein laterally spaced side frame memberseach including a top portion and front and rear legs extendingdownwardly from the ends thereof, a reach bar ex'- tending transverselyof and having end portions engaged with portions of said side framemembers, an upright member extending through each end of said reach barand that portion of a side frame member with which it is engaged VVVandoperatively securing said reach bar to said side frame members, a seatsupport having side varms connected together at the rear, meansproviding a vertical pivotal connection for the front Vend of one ofsaid arms with one of said upright members and about which connectionsaid support may be swung in a horizontal plane to bring the front end0f the other arm of said support into and out of operative engagementwith the other of said upright members, and means for detachablyconnecting the front end of said last mentioned arm to said otherupright member when in operative engagement therewith.

8. A baby walker embodying therein laterally spaced side frame members,each including a top portion and front and rear legs extendingdownwardly from the ends thereof, a reach bar extending transversely ofand having end portions engaged with portions of said side framemembers, a hand rail disposed above said reach bar and having dependingend legs, secured to said reach bar and to said side frame membersrespectively, and a seat support having side arms connected together atthe rear and at their front ends operatively engaged with said end legsofr said hand rail.

9. A baby walker embodying therein laterally spaced side frame memberseach including atop portion and front and rear legs extending downwatdlyfrom the ends thereof, a reach bar ex'- tendlngtransversely of andhaving end portions engaged with'` portions of said sideframe-memb'ersgfa handrail disposed above said reach bar and havingdepending end legs, bottom portions of whiche'xtend through ythe endportions of said reach barv and through portions of. saidside framemembers with which they engage, 'a seat support having side armsconnected together at-thefrea'r, and means for'detachably connecting theends of the side arms of said seat support tesaidfend-legs of the handrail.

v10.l A. baby walker embodying therein laterally spaced side framemembers, each including a top portion and front-and rear legs extendingdown-i Wardly'ifrom the ends thereof, a reachv bar extendingtransversely of and having end portions engaged with` portions of saidside frame memi bers, a hand 'rail disposed above` said reach4 bar andhavingl depending end legs, bottom portions ofvwhich extend through theend portions ofsaid reach bar and through portions of said side framemembers with which they engage, a seat support having'side armsconnected together at the rear, connection members mounted oneonv eachleg of the hand rail and each includinga lrear wardly extending stem,and means for detachably connecting'the end of each arm of the'seatsupport toan associated stem.

1l. A baby walker embodying therein laterally spaced side framememberseach including a top portion and front and rear legs extending'downwardly from the ends thereof, a, reach bar ex tending transverselyof and engaged' at its. ends upona portion of bothside frame members, ahandheld having end legs'with a reduced diameter lower threaded portionconnected to the associated leg bya shoulder, said reduced diameterlower portion of each leg of ythe hand hold extending through anassociated end of said reach bar and portion of said side frame memberengaged thereby, a nut on each lower portion of each hand rail leg fordrawing the parts tightly togetherwithveach end portion of the reach barengaged by said shoulder on an associated leg of the hand hold, and aU-shaped seat frame having side arms, each connected to a leg of thehand hold for adjustment vertically thereof.

1'2. A baby walker embodying therein laterally spaced side frame memberseach including a top portion andV front and rear legs extending downlward-ly-noin:.theendsthereof,l a reach bar. ex-

tending transversely of andv engaged at-its lends .upon avportion ofboth side frame members; a

hand hold-having. end legsA withvia reduced di'- ameter lowerendthreadedportion connected to tlie associated leg by va shoulder, saidreduced diameter' lower end portion'- of each. legV of the hand holdextending through an associatedl end of said reach bar and sideframe-member portion engaged thereby, a nut on each lower end-.portionof each hand-rail leg :for drawing the parts tightly together with eachend portion ot said Vreachv barengaged by a shoulderl on an associatedle'g .of thelhand hold,` a connection member mounted on each leg of thehand hold,v and: each connection member including a rearwardlyvextending portion, a U-shapedseat framehaving side arms with the freeend of each side arm having a telescopic engagement with the rearwardlyextending portion of each connection member, andv meanstfor releasablyattaching the free end of each-.side arm toitsassociatedlrearwardlyextending portion of each connection member.

13. A baby walker embodying therein two side frame members eachofrinverted U shape in side elevation, means holding said framemembers-in lateral spaced relation, an inverted U-shaped memberincluding a hand hold at the Vtop and depending. side legs, one xed atthe bottom to each side frame.A member, a seatls'upportingframe of Ushape in plan, the legs of. said U-shaped seatframe being securedto said.side legs of .said inverted U -shaped member.

EDRICC. STACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following: references are of record inthe le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

